Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle officially filed for reelection on Tuesday, just five minutes after qualifying opened.
First elected in 2008, Battle is seeking his fourth term as mayor of Alabama’s fastest-growing big city.
The Huntsville mayoral election will be held on August 25.
Candidates do not run as a member of any political party; though Battle is known across the state as a Republican after seeking that party’s nomination during the 2018 gubernatorial election.
In an email to supporters, Battle said that in the last 12 years, “Huntsville has grown into the shining star of Alabama. Our teamwork with Huntsville’s city council and our partners across Madison County and North Alabama has resulted in nearly 30,000 jobs, more efficient infrastructure, excellent quality of life amenities, and fiscal responsibility.”
Battle was joined for the signing of the official papers by his wife, Eula, a former teacher who runs a lauded charity called Free2Teach that gives classroom supplies to public school teachers so they do not have to pay out of their own pocket.
“We are living in unprecedented times. There is no playbook for the current crisis. But because of solid leadership, we will move forward together,” Battle said with regards to his case for reelection.
“I am running for reelection because proven leadership is important in times like these,” he added.
The mayor is expected by most observers to receive only token opposition; he won his two most recent municipal campaigns with 80% of the vote.
According to census estimates, Huntsville’s population grew from around 180,000 in 2010 to around 200,000 in 2020. The Rocket City became the state’s second-largest in that time period and is expected to pass Birmingham before the year 2025.
The mayor often says he is very proud of his city’s growth, but is quick to also point out the infrastructure improvements he has championed to keep the city’s average commute time under 20 minutes.
Battle counts among his successes the recruitment of tens of thousands of jobs to the area, including the massive Mazda-Toyota manufacturing plant currently under construction in the westernmost portion of the city.
“It has taken a lot of work to get to this point and there is still much to be done,” Battle continued in his remarks on Tuesday.
“Let’s continue to improve Huntsville. I’m ready to keep working for you,” he concluded.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95
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